A routine Saturday drive on Walden Street ended in tragedy when two people were killed and three others were injured in a head-on collision at the intersection of Walden Street and Bristers Hill Road in Concord, town officials said. The crash involved a Tesla Model 3 and a Honda Accord, and several victims were airlifted to regional trauma centers while emergency crews shut down the roadway to work the scene.
Police later identified the two people who died as 82-year-old John Hamilton and 85-year-old Paula Hamilton, both Concord residents. They were among the occupants of the Tesla and were airlifted to Lahey Hospital in Burlington, where they died, according to NBC Boston. Two 28-year-old passengers in the Tesla, both from Tacoma, Washington, were also hospitalized. One has been released and the other is being treated for injuries that are not considered life-threatening. The Honda’s driver, a 25-year-old man from Wilmington, remains hospitalized, police said.
Early accounts from the scene initially put the number of injured at five and detailed a chaotic response in the moments after impact. Firefighters and police “triaged the injured on scene,” and two patients were flown by Boston MedFlight to regional trauma centers, according to Boston 25 News. The outlet reported the crash happened around 1 p.m. Saturday and that first responders arrived to find both vehicles with heavy damage.
The collision shut down Walden Street between Thoreau Street and Route 2 for roughly 90 minutes while officials worked the scene and began piecing together what happened, according to The Concord Bridge. That outlet also reported that authorities referred more detailed questions to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office and noted that the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section joined Concord personnel at the site.
Investigation underway
Concord police say investigators believe the Honda crossed the double yellow line and slammed into the Tesla head-on. The crash remains under investigation by Concord police, Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office, according to NBC Boston. Officials have not released a detailed sequence of events or said whether any charges might follow, and they are asking anyone with information or video from the area to contact investigators.
Where this intersection stands
The area of Walden Street near Bristers Hill Road was already on the town’s radar for safety improvements. The Town of Concord's Transportation Advisory Committee agenda in May included an update on a planned sidewalk extension along Walden Street between Magnolia Street and Bristers Hill Road. The town also provides information online about how to request accident reports. On its records page, Concord notes that crash reports can be requested in person or by email and that copies are provided at no cost to the requester.
Investigators say they will release more information as it becomes available, and neighbors and commuters should expect occasional traffic disruptions while follow-up work continues. For now, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office is handling media questions, while the Concord Police Department remains the point of contact for records and witness statements, according to Boston 25 News.
